Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-08-04
I n Wsskly Inteligsucer
LANcAsr.s, AUGUST 4. issa.

! sDyS &QylI0DISE 1uSIIul SSSlSks
LAMcAsrER, AUGUST 4. lssa.
ne Ceastltutlesal Amendments.
8 An ofacial advertisement, by the proper
s1nlo authorities, will recall attention to
~ fact that two amendments to the
OeoGlitution Of Pennsylvania are pending
boebrs the people aud, If the state conven.
1ieus Of the respective political parties take
ooguizance Of their consideration, may in
- some zest into what would otherwise
pgovo Q dull campaign. 1t Is notable that
G1noe the people Of the commonwealth rat.
~ their new constitution In 1873, by a
popular majority reaching nearly one hun
dred and fifty thousand, no amendment
- been submitted to popular vote, al.
though several have been formally pro.
possd in the legislature and many offered
a public discussion. The new constitution
was bold departure in many features. 1t
was the work Of q body largely drawn
from the ablest and most eminent men Of
~ state; among them were persons of
oeiginality and force OF character, whose
eenflicting opinions were hard to re.
ouucile, and some of the results OF
thalr deliberations were Of very ques.
tlosable propriety. There are a
nnmbec Of provisions In the instrument
which certainly would have been repudi.
ooed bad they been submitted separately.
30 general was the disgust of the people
With the old order, and 30 rank and nox-
ious had the evil Of special legislation
ezuwn to be, that any change was wei.
oomed and the new law was adopted, with
whatsoever crudities and defects it con.
tnined.
The provision for amendment to the
fundamental law requires that such altera
ton must first receive the agreement OF
uajority Of the members elected to e;.ch
House. 1t does not call for the sig.
nature OF the governor although
" believe Governor Beaver has as
sumed the privilege Of setting his
nanne to the pending amendments. The
secrstary OF the commonwealth is directed
- eQhlssh- these amendments for three
months before the next general election
In the newspapers Of the state although,
. events show, it is not the most timely
occasion for such publication. For it is
intended to inform the people and odirect
their choice of representatives and senators
with some reference to their views upon
these questions whereas members of the
) legislature are not chosen at this I" next
general election" but in the canvass of
The succeeding year. 1t is to be borne in
mind also that while these publications
axs made now, no vote Of the people is to
be taken on the amendments this year,
nor even next year. The amendments are
only submitted to popular decision after
they have received the approval of both
branches Of the next legislature, to be
chosen in 1888.
In the canvass Of next year every candi.
date for the legislature will have to have,
q ct least to avow, an opinion upon the
subject of these amendments. He will be
interrogated and will have to answer.
Meantime 1t will be interesting to watch
! what the state conventions will have to
aay and do about the amendments which
ths legislature has passed and which are
now advertised to the attention of the
public.
Thearst of these proposes to entirely pro.
Aibtt the manufacture and sale of liquor,
wine and beer, or even the keeping of hard
cider In Pennsylvania. We think that the
Democratic convention at Allentown can
AFFORD to say that it is against this sweeping
fundamental law; and in saying this it will
not mean that the party is opposed to
! rigorous restriction Of the liquor traffic nor
that Thousands of its individual members
would not favor its determination. We
think the Prohibition state convention will
favor the amendment. We think the Re.
publican state convention will dodge the
question and declare it Ii not an issue no,
this year; some other year.
The second proposed amendment is to
Tho effect that the present two-months
I1idence in An election district as a
1squ0ite to voting he reduced to thirty
4 oAys-a change whose wisdom may be
doubted; and somewhat misty exception
y made relating to municipal elections.
SoSdleu in the field and inmates of sol.
& oleU homes are secured In their rights to
n voee wherever they may be; and students
81 eIllors and paupen are neither to gain no,
- residence for voting by their tempo
NJ Ocation. The tax qualification upor
4 - franchise II entirely wiped out; this h
- nsat Of the amendment and must com
U1nd itsalf to thoughtful and intell
s O1Dt observers, who have seen everywheu
i 49, this attempted restriction is farc'
ended By political parties, the fruitf,
{ Geurcs OF sxpsnse and corruption. Tt
4 I'll tax should be abolished. The DEM
cgafie state convention can we'll afford |
en1ogs this amendment. We think
yin do 20.
Rreenss asd Convict.
How narrow arc the limits that divid
- FREEMAN from the convict Is ILLUSTRATED
~ ths homicide case from Easton, wherein
- Of The wealthiest young men OF thai